MR STANLEY'S MISSION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2778, 9 January 1878, Page 3

MR STANLEY'S MISSION.

The Groat Livingstone River.

A Land of Ivory.

The Future Commerce of Africa.

{FBOM THE DAIIiT TEt,EGEM?H; NOV. 12.)

{Concluded.)

My experience of the river 'lales from the Ist of November, 187G, lo the 11th August, 1877, a period of over nine months. Its highest rise lasted from the Bth of May.to the 22nd of Mny, and was caused by tho periodical rains known to us on the East Coast as the Masika. While this flood is of great advantage to the navigation above the cataracts of the maritime, region, where tho rivrr assumes a lacustrine breadth, it vastly increases its terrors at the cataracts, because of the trebled fury with which the swollen water sweeps down the steep * incline of its bed through tho rocky narrows to the sea. The depth of the rise raries naturally, owing to the great disproportion of the breadth of tho stream. ... Up river it is about 8 feet, but in the narrows below it is from 20 to 50 ; feet. In some places of the cataract 1 district the rise was as much as 15 inches per diem, but then the river was at that point only 500 yards wide. Whatever efforts may be made by the explorer in future in the commercial de- i velopment of this river, no one need try to ascend through any part of the cataract region by means of any kind of floating Teasel. It might perchnnce be done, since fery few things are impossibilities ; but the ascent mainly must be overland, as nothing floating could well climb 0, 10, 20, and 25 feet falls. Besides, even where there are neither'cataracts nor foaming rapids the rush of water through the narrows is so great that it would be a Sisyphean labor altogether. The Livingstone rirer is the Amazon of Africa, the Nile is the Mississippi. While the latter has greater length, the Livingstone could furnish water to three Niles. It requires enormous breadtli or great depth to restrain all this impetuosity. Though the Nile is a most valuablo river for commerce, the., Livingstone is still better. The former has its course frequently interrupted, but the latter fortunately has all its obstructions in two series. The ripper, between E. long. 25deg and 26deg, consisting of six great falls, terminates all navigation that might be established above the lower series, which consists of sixty-two important falls and rapids -—though there are many minor impediments of the same kind I do not think necessary to include in the list. I remember when about starting from Nyangwe I told Frank that I hoped I should find the cataracts in a "lump." Once above the lower falls we have indeed the half of Africa before us with. no interruption, and not, like the Lower Nile regions, deserts of sand, but one vast, populous plain, so teeming with life, indeed, that, excepting Ugogo, I know no part of Africa so thickly inhabited. The usual term village is a misnomer for most of these collections of dwellings ; they are towns in some places two miles long with one or more broad streets between rows of neat well-built houses superior to anything in East Central Africa. The natives are different also. Every thoughtseemsengrossed with trade, and fairs and markets are established everywhere. There has been a suspicion gradually entertained that ivory must soon become a cariosity ; but I can vouch that at least it will not be so for three orfour generations. This is the land of ivory "temples," or idol enclosures, where tho commonest utensils for domestic use ore made of ivory. The people do not seem able to comprehend why any one should take the trouble to pay for it when it is so plentiful in each tillage. The entire plain is also distinguished for its groves of the oil palm. In Ukusu there are huge forests of this tree. Almost everything that Africa produces is to be obtained in the Livingstone basin — cotton, india - rubber, ground nuts, sesamum, copal (red and white), palm kernels and palm oil, ivory, &c. By means of its broad and glo- ■* rious waters a journey to the gold and ■ copper-district of Katanga is moreover rendered very easy. The Great Biver gives 110 miles below and 835 miles above the cataracts of navigable water, while the large affluents north and south, traversing the basin, will afford over 1200 miles, and perhaps much more. The greatest affluent, the Ikelemba, must be more than a thousand miles in length; the Nkutu River is over 700, the Aruwimi must exceed 500, while there are four or five others which, by their breadth, I should judge to be navigable for great distances. I would not advise any solitary explorer to venture near the cannibal lands, unless he wishes trouble; but the influence of commerce, once it is established on an equitable basis, will soon reduce those natives also to reason. A trader ascending the river has a better chance of ingratiating himself with the inhabitants than an explorer descending j from a region whither no enterprising j native has dared to venture. As he must halt a considerable time for business at capital, his reputation for being just "^jraxl good will precede him, and bring him hosts of customers. Indeed, the great difficulty wilt be to restrain their inordinate love of barter. The islands on the river will afford him safe camps and quiet retreats, and it will be better both for the merchant.aud the nativo to occupy island depots near the main land until mutual confidence is thoroughly established., I feel convinced that the question of this mighty- water-way will become a political one in time. As yet, however, no TSuropean Power seems to have put forth the right of control. Portugal claims it, because she discovered its mouth; but the Great Powers—England, America, and France—refuse.to recognise her right, and express their determination, in plain terms, to dispute her assuming possession of the river. If it were not that I fear to damp any interest you may have in Africa or in this magnificent stream.by the length of my letters, I could show you very strong reasons why it would be a politic deed to settle this momentous question immediately. I could prove, to you that the possessor of the Livingstone, despite its cataracts, would absorb tq himself the trade of the whole of the enormous basin behind, which extends across 13 degrees of longitude and over 14 defrees of latitude. The Eiver is, and will o, Ibe grand highway of commerce to - Wpst'CVolral Africa. If fid, why should |t bo left; to dispute as to who shall rule the lower river and its banks ? Why should it be left to the mercy of the piratical Mussolangos ? I hear that British men-of-war have been castigating

those scoundrels lately with bombshells in a far moro exemplary manner than I have been punishing llio piratical cannibals on tho eastern iwilor of the Great Basiu ; though ]-iol»tiMy .;' > »t the some period. But nwo'y rLislisiug these people is not -enough ; iii re should be vessels of wnr to vr vt>l-' suck deeds n* the destruction of European ships; and the question is, whufc Pon, r shall be depute! in the name of humanity t(1 protect the youth of commerce in l!:is little-known world. An explorer is seldom called upon for the expression of his views, nor would I venture on this groun-1 or meddle in tho matter if I did not feel so very strong an interest in Africa. But I will present you with an example of what tuighf come to pass if the question bo not settled. A number of European merchants interested in African commerce construct houses, and stores, and depots on the Livingstone, say on either >au!r, north or south, The natives, troubled with indigestion or bad dreams, take it into their head that it would be a fine thing to rob the white people, and burn their dwellings aud depots, and murder them. The thing is done, * pai.demonium is re-enacted, tho newspapers and public opinion hear the news and expressions of " shame " on all the powers interested are very loud and strong. British men-of-war hurry up and bombard everybody, or, to use an expressive though vulgar phrase, they "..knock things into a cocked hat; " yet perhaps the punishment exceeds the offence, because the innocent would be involved in the destruction. Or, as the case might easily be, suppose the European merchants capable of defending themselves, and that by a little strategy they capture the conspirators, and doom them, one and all without mercy, to death, by . chaining them in gangs, young and old, and so drown them off-hand in the deep water of the Livingstone. What would be said of this P Ido not say it has or has not been done. I merely state what might happen. I put a possible case before the enlightened reader. Would you be surprised to hear that it has been done? What ought, then, to be planned' to prevent Mussolangos and natives, with bad dreams and deranged digestion, from strangling lawful, legitimate, and humane commerce ? What ought to be done to prevent pitiless, vengeful merchants from placing themselves under the ban of Christians ? Let England, I say, «t once arrange with Portugal to proclaim sovereignty over tho Livingstone Biver, to prevent the sensibilities of the world being shocked some day when least expected. I have hinted to you a few strong reasons why the matter ought to "be disposed of, bat space will not permit me; and "i word to the wise is sufficient."

Henht M. Stanley.